RUST SPREADING IN BRAZIL

At press time, Asian soybean rust has spread to 128 municipalities in nine Brazilian states and the Federal District, according to Embrapa, their government reporting service similar to USDA.

Only 64 municipalities have reported rust present in commercial soybean fields, however, with the other cases being found in test plots or in voluntary soybeans.

So far, rust outbreaks have been concentrated in Brazil's No. 2 soybean state of Parana, where the fungus has been reported in 71 municipalities, with 39 outbreaks in commercials fields. Mato Grosso, Brazil's top soybean state, has reported outbreaks in 18 municipalities.